He has held executive planning and development positions with the City of Subiaco and the City of Wanneroo. From 2001 to 2008 Charles was the CEO of the City of Wanneroo. 

From July 2008 to July 2010 he was an Executive Director at the Department of Planning and had a leading role in the preparation of Directions 2031 and Beyond and the review of the Metropolitan Activity Centres Policy.

In July 2010 he left Government to work in the private sector and in 2012 established his business ‘Planning Context’ which has a policy research and governance focus. 

He is a former Board Member of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and former Presiding Member of the Central Metropolitan Development Assessment Panel.  He is a Life Fellow and a Past President of the WA Division of Planning Institute of Australia. In 2018 he received the W.E. Bold Memorial Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Planning.